Deciding on the courses I need

[Owlie]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm basically done with all my non-BCMP courses, save one more term of english.
So, I have been looking at several med school course requirement lists, especially for my top choices.

So far I've figured that I need:

BIO: full year
Gen Chem: full year
Physics: full year
Organic Chem: full year
Stats: one term
Bio chem: two terms

I've gotten some of these courses done, but as a general outline, this is what I've written out. Does this look alright? Is it worth taking more math or other science courses? I'm taking A&P as well, and have already taken microbiology which is nice, especially for the MCAT.

Also, my top choice, OHSU, states on their req. page, "One academic year of general biology to include one genetics course. Laboratories are recommended." Does anyone know if they mean that this biology set should include genetics in the curriculum, or that I need a genetics course on its own?

Note: I'm on quarter hours *edit*

Also, would it be okay to take organic chem 1 at the same time as gen chem 3? I think it would be wise to stay full time, but it would be nice to avoid taking classes I don't need. Also, is taking organic and biochem at the same time a bad idea? It would probably be organic 2 and biochem 1.

 

[occams_razor]

which schools require 2 semesters of biochem? I've only ever seen a semester of biochem as recommended.

when they say - "One academic year of general biology to include one genetics course",it sounds like they specifically mean a genetics class

at my school orgo 2 is required before you can take biochem. I think taking orgo 2 and biochem at the same time will be about as hard as taking orgo and physics at the same time, which a lot of people do, so I think it's doable

 

[Owlie]

which schools require 2 semesters of biochem? I've only ever seen a semester of biochem as recommended.

when they say - "One academic year of general biology to include one genetics course",it sounds like they specifically mean a genetics class

at my school orgo 2 is required before you can take biochem. I think taking orgo 2 and biochem at the same time will be about as hard as taking orgo and physics at the same time, which a lot of people do, so I think it's doable

Note: I said two terms* and not two semesters. I work off of quarter hours, seen in my note at the bottom 😛

OHSU only requires one course of biochem, however places like UNM require 1 semester or 2 quarters of biochem

 

[Owlie]

Also, should I finish biochem and ochem before I even take my mcat? My only concern is, I would be done with my science prereqs in my senior year, so if I took the mcat after my prereqs, I would be waiting a year to apply. Should I just use that year for ECs then?

 

[487806]

Also, should I finish biochem and ochem before I even take my mcat? My only concern is, I would be done with my science prereqs in my senior year, so if I took the mcat after my prereqs, I would be waiting a year to apply. Should I just use that year for ECs then?

Are you sure you can't take orgo in junior year? The class would help you learn for MCAT.. If not, don't worry. You can self-study using berkeley review, kaplan, princeton review, exam krackers. Use Sn2ed's plan of study for mcat.

Biochem is not so important unless you're taking 2015 version.

 

[Owlie]

Are you sure you can't take orgo in junior year? The class would help you learn for MCAT.. If not, don't worry. You can self-study using berkeley review, kaplan, princeton review, exam krackers. Use Sn2ed's plan of study for mcat.

Biochem is not so important unless you're taking 2015 version.

Because of my schedule, the earliest I can take orgo is the last quarter of my junior year (spring term). Perhaps if I studied early - say, starting in February, and taking it in April, I could get my MCAT back before I need to apply. I should be taking the MCAT before 2015.
Thanks for the heads up.

 

[mcloaf]

No calc 1?

 

[Owlie]

No calc 1?

I'm deciding if I really want to. I could take it and get a degree in biomedical science, or biochemistry, or I could not (because most med schools don't require calc, especially if you take stats) and get something else. That way I don't have to wait another year to apply, because some of my classes would be pushed out. Or maybe I'm overthinking it. *shrug*

 

[circulus vitios]

Some schools want to see genetics. I know one of the U Arizona campus schools wants physiology. I heard something about one of the Harvard programs wanting two semesters of calculus and possibly ordinary differential equations? A few of the California schools strongly recommend strong Spanish speaking skills/coursework. Really, it depends on which schools you're applying to. There's no point in taking additional classes if the schools you're apply to don't require them.

 

[Owlie]

Some schools want to see genetics. I know one of the U Arizona campus schools wants physiology. I heard something about one of the Harvard programs wanting two semesters of calculus and possibly ordinary differential equations? A few of the California schools strongly recommend strong Spanish speaking skills/coursework. Really, it depends on which schools you're applying to. There's no point in taking additional classes if the schools you're apply to don't require them.

To be honest, I've only come up with a handful of schools I want to apply for as of yet. I've not done a lot of research. Short of going to each website and poring through each one, I have no idea where to start. It would be nice if there was compiled information to at least look at as a foundation for looking! I will end up taking genetics I believe. I may very well end up taking calculus; it's just that I loathe math. I'm good at it, but I loathe it with a fiery passion!

I'm currently taking A&P, so that will probably count as physiology to some. My school's orgo programs are a bit weird though. There's several to choose from, such as CH 334 - Organic chemistry, or CH 331 + 332 - Principles of Organic chemistry (with labs), or Organic Chem with spectroscopy CH 335+340L

 

[487806]

Because of my schedule, the earliest I can take orgo is the last quarter of my junior year (spring term). Perhaps if I studied early - say, starting in February, and taking it in April, I could get my MCAT back before I need to apply. I should be taking the MCAT before 2015.
Thanks for the heads up.

In that case, you're good to go for the mcat if you follow the previous advice or sn2ed's plan. Regarding the prereqs, did you contact the schools to verify if they will accept them before matriculation?

 

[Owlie]

In that case, you're good to go for the mcat if you follow the previous advice or sn2ed's plan. Regarding the prereqs, did you contact the schools to verify if they will accept them before matriculation?

The med schools? Not yet. I'll be speaking to my advisor soon and see what she says about the orgo courses and what's best.

 

[circulus vitios]

To be honest, I've only come up with a handful of schools I want to apply for as of yet. I've not done a lot of research. Short of going to each website and poring through each one, I have no idea where to start. It would be nice if there was compiled information to at least look at as a foundation for looking! I will end up taking genetics I believe. I may very well end up taking calculus; it's just that I loathe math. I'm good at it, but I loathe it with a fiery passion!

I'm currently taking A&P, so that will probably count as physiology to some. My school's orgo programs are a bit weird though. There's several to choose from, such as CH 334 - Organic chemistry, or CH 331 + 332 - Principles of Organic chemistry (with labs), or Organic Chem with spectroscopy CH 335+340L

The MSAR lists coursework requirements but there are some mistakes. If you're applying DO there's the college information book, but again I've noticed some mistakes. http://www.aacom.org/resources/bookstore/cib/Documents/2013cib/2013CIB_whole_web.pdf

 

[Owlie]

The MSAR lists coursework requirements but there are some mistakes. If you're applying DO there's the college information book, but again I've noticed some mistakes. http://www.aacom.org/resources/bookstore/cib/Documents/2013cib/2013CIB_whole_web.pdf

Thank you 🙂